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Council Presents Award to Melville Charitable Trust

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy presented the inaugural Nancy P. Roberts Award to THE MELVILLE CHARITABLE TRUST. The award honors a grantmaking organization for demonstrated innovation in philanthropy.

Since its inception in 1990, Melville has invested more than $113 million to alleviate homelessness by developing supportive housing, community solutions, and a stronger policy environment. In Connecticut, a primary focus has been the creation of partnerships that bring nonprofits, government agencies and other stakeholders together to more effectively address housing, homelessness and community development.

"Melville’s leadership and innovation within the philanthropic community and its hands-on, holistic approach to addressing homelessness in CT makes them deserving of the inaugural Nancy P. Roberts Award,” said Barbara Fernandez, Director, Office of Insurance and Finance of the State of Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community.

Among Melville’s notable investments has been the startup of Billings Forge Community Works (BFCW). BFCW, a nonprofit formed in 2003, creates opportunities for residents in Hartford’s Frog Hollow by operating a farmer’s market, youth afterschool programming, a performing arts space, and a social enterprise job-training kitchen and café, which serves as a catering and retail sales business for the community and beyond. BFCW is Melville’s response to addressing the causes and symptoms of poverty in the Frog Hollow neighborhood. Their efforts have resulted in the acclaimed fine dining restaurant Firebox and more than 100 renovated units of affordable housing. Melville’s initial and ongoing support of BFCW has allowed them to attract additional support from several funders and expand their efforts in other neighborhoods, including Hartford’s south downtown neighborhood.

About the Nancy P. Roberts AwardIn May 2013 the Council board established the Nancy P. Roberts Award for demonstrated innovation in philanthropy. This award honors Nancy for her decades-long commitment to the field of philanthropy through her leadership of the Council as its president from 1991-2013. For more information about the Roberts Award visit the Council’s website.

About the Connecticut Council for PhilanthropyThe Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is an association of grantmakers committed to promoting and supporting effective philanthropy for the public good. With members representing 114 private and community foundations, federated funds, and corporate foundations and giving programs, the Council is Connecticut’s foremost resource on philanthropy. The organization benefits the larger grantmaking community, the nonprofit sector and the public in Connecticut.